Karpatiosorbus devoniensis

Karpatiosorbus devoniensis is known by the English name of Devon whitebeam^[3] and formally as Broad-leaved Whitebeam. When the fruit was reported as sold at Barnstaple Pannier Market ^[4] the name French Eagles was used, apart from 1929 when they were reported as eagle-berries. When the trees were reported as seen growing wild on botanical walks they were referred to as French Hails (once each as French hail and French Hales). Broad-leaved white-beam, which was the common name until Devon Whitebeam took over, was used once in 1907.

Karpatiosorbus devoniensis
Devon whitebeam, leaves and young fruit
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Genus:	Karpatiosorbus
Species:	K. devoniensis
Binomial name
Karpatiosorbus devoniensis (E.F.Warb.) Sennikov & Kurtto
Synonyms[2]
Pyrus rotundifolia E.S.Marshall Sorbus latifolia Syme,p.p.69 Sorbus devoniensis E.F.Warb.

The term Otmast was used once as a pet name,^[5] as its true identity was not known.^[6] The term sorb apple has been used recently but completely without foundation, it is another example of a name being attributed to the wrong species. It is a species of whitebeam, trees and shrubs in the family Rosaceae. It is endemic to the British Isles, growing wild in areas of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and south-east Ireland as a native and north-east Ireland as an introduction.

It probably did not exist before the last ice age, arising from a hybrid between Sorbus torminalis, the wild service tree, and another species of whitebeam. It is a close relative of the Watersmeet whitebeam, Karpatiosorbus admonitor, and two other British natives and around 40 species in Europe.^[7]

Description

Sorbus devoniensis fruit

It will form a deciduous tree to about 12 metres height.

The leaves are entire, lobed, dark green above, the underside has a dense layer of grey hairs.

It flowers at the end of May, they are white with 5 petals.

The fruit ripen at the end of October. They are orange-brown to brown, and edible.

Locations found

• along the River Taw and River Torridge
• Roborough Down near Plymouth is where the type specimen was taken
• Little Haldon, at Bishopsteignton along the Postman's Path
• Boyton, Cornwall
• South East and North East Ireland (rarely)
• Halsdon Nature Reserve near Great Torrington managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust - a small tree
• Uppacott Wood Nature reserve between Barnstaple and Bideford also managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust, has a few trees
• Watergate Bridge near Great Torrington, grid ref SS468175. The plant growing on the old platform has been removed
• Leigh Cross, Zeal Monachorum
• Watergate, Horwood
• Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle, WA, USA. Some plants in cultivation are incorrectly named so this should be verified
• Between Martinhoe and Lynton in heath and woodland. Importantly not in the East Lyn valley as those plants are Sorbus admonitor